family Archives - Lauren Sparks

Spring gives way to summer as June pushes May to the curb. At least here in Texas. I can’t believe another school year came and went. And it’s been a busy one as folks seek to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

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On the very first day of the month we invited one of our favorite couples over for game night. They brought dinner. We provided Celebrity Throw Down! and Code Names. The later is one of our current faves. So fun to play.

A couple of days later, my two yoga classes went live. I have been leading them over Zoom for months, but now teach a hybrid format – some participants in person and some online. This is quite a challenge, but one I’m thankful to be figuring out. If a chair yoga class geared toward seniors sounds interesting to you, click this link to join my live class on Tuesdays at 1pm or choose a pre-recorded class to practice at your convenience! I am unable to share the hatha mat class.

I spent my mother’s day a little stressed over some unfortunate family dynamics, but I got to see my mom. That makes a lot of things better. And seeing my dad, grandad and sister makes for a pretty good day, too. If you think about it, I would love some prayers for a tough situation in my clan. God knows and I appreciate you talking to Him about it.

My husband went out of town for a few days and my 16 year old had 3 AP exams. That makes for even more stress. But we survived and persevere. That same 16 year old got her first vaccine so we are one shot away from the whole family being vaxxed! Yay! She gave her last choir performance, had her end of year choir banquet, camped out with some of the youth from church and sailed through her final week of school.

For a little light escapism, the hubs and I watched Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days with my 20 year old daughter. She very much loves still loves Elmo and the whole gang. We are in process with Big Shot on Disney+, a nice family show with John Stamos as a hot tempered NCAA basketball coach (aka Bobby Knight) who is banned. He can only get a coaching gig with a girl’s team at the private high school. My only advice to the show runners – don’t have Stamos jog anymore. It’s awkward.

We watched Without Remorse on Amazon Prime. Lots of action and Michael B. Jordan! I don’t even think Chuck fell asleep once! That’s saying a lot. We tried Shrill on Hulu and quit it in a matter of minutes due to language and a scene that I hope I can one day scrub from my mind. We quickly gave up on Dickinson on Apple+ too. As a writer, I wanted it to work. But alas… We went to an actual theater to see Triumph. I love just about any overcomer movie and this one about a boy with CP is a heart warmer. My daughter Allie and I (what?) decided to binge together the very light hearted and silly Baby Daddy. It’s an old school sitcom and those just seem to be my favorite.

I read Maggie’s War by Terrie Todd. My mom, who likes to read in bed at night, passed it on to me. She tears paperbacks apart so she can comfortably lay on her side with a section at a time. Yes, she’s a librarian…tearing books. And after she finishes, she rubber bands all the dismantled sections together and passes it to me. Although it this point, I can’t imagine chopping a book up myself, I have to admit I don’t mind reading them this way. I can throw a small section of a book in my purse and off I go!

I checked out When Breath Becomes Air on ebook from the library. I can’t remember who recommended it to me, but I can’t really recommend it to you. Paul Kalanithi is a beautiful writer and obviously extremely intelligent, but I’m not sure how someone who says he is a believer can grapple with the meaning of life and death without talking about God or an afterlife. For this reason it fell very flat for me.

The last thing I’ll share, my husband and I took another couple to the drive in movie theater for a simulcast Bon Jovi concert. In the rain. So we watched and listened inside our truck – even running the battery down and having to get a jump in the middle of the show. But some good company and tunes made the evening a win.

That’s it for May. I hope you cruise into June and enjoy the start of your summer. And as always, I love you, I thank you, and I hope next month treats you well.

And now for this week’s featured link up post!

Back in January, I shared with you that my word for the year is trust. Barbara Lee Harper of Stray Thoughts: A Home for the Stray Thoughts of an Ordinary Christian Woman hit on the #1 thing I struggle to trust God with in this season – my children. Read Trusting God for Our Children’s Safety for an interesting perspective.

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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I want to start by thanking you all for the love and encouragement you are sending for the new series, “Praying God’s Word Wednesday”. It means so much to me that you see the benefit of praying scripture and want to do it alongside me. I don’t take this privilege lightly.

Confession: the idea came from my mom. She has been a daily prayer warrior for me and my sisters since our conception. And she often uses the Bible to formulate her petitions.

I remember her intervention years ago when I ran to her as a newly married wife with a step-son and very little clue. Before the time of free mobile long distance, I sent her an email spilling all my woes about a very difficult situation. I had reached the breaking point and felt hopeless. She sent a message back that morning (I can hear the dial-up tone now) that began with 2 Corinthians 4:8,9. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed.

The note then instructed me to read Psalm 27:1-14 when I got home from work. The passage taught of the sovereignty of God. The Psalmist asked who he should fear if the Lord was his light, salvation and stronghold? He spoke of the Almighty defeating evil. Verse 13 said, I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

My mom then quoted Galatians 6:9 in her note. Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. She reminded me that she referenced this scripture to pray for me over and over again during my difficult teenage years. Her email changed the course of my day. My mom, using God’s word, put everything in perspective for me. To top it all off, she and my dad came to my house that very night. They drove an hour and a half to give me a hug when I needed it most.

As a grown woman I still learn so much from my mom. That email sent many years ago started me on a journey to study God’s Word. I strive to keep it on my lips for use at all times. Thank you, Mama, for your generous love and good example. You mean the world to me! And Happy Mother’s Day to you and all the moms out there.

And now for this week’s featured link up post.

Mary Rooney Armand of Butterfly Living gave me a name for something I did not know I was experiencing in What is Spiritual Fatigue? And How to Overcome It. The author gives us signs to look for to “diagnose” this “condition” and practical ways to combat it. I may be referencing this for weeks or months to come.

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate)